"For a company, data is like a compass".
Even digital experts have earthly problems
The fine, delicate woman radiates dignity and determination. Yet she remains approachable and even allows us a glimpse into her private life. We are sitting in her beautiful office on Zurich's Dufourstrasse and she laughs as she talks about her two sons. They are 15 and 17. The biggest topic of discussion in the family is internet use. "They say I'm the only mother who restricts use; you can hardly imagine the debates about it." Even a computer and data scientist has earthly problems with the "digital native offspring". How comforting.
You're here to write minutes, aren't you?
She speaks perfect German, having lived in Germany for years before Ringier made her an offer for Zurich, worked for Pro SiebenSat1 and for SAP for 17 years. She now feels comfortable as a woman in a male-dominated industry, but has also experienced discrimination. "It's different today. But in the past, at big meetings where not all the participants knew each other, someone sitting next to me once said to me: "Take this down, it was important." I looked at him uncomprehendingly. Then he said: "You're here to take minutes, aren't you?" She can laugh about things like that today, but since then she has been committed to women in digital professions. The age is ideal for women, she says, as they think in a factual and solution-oriented way and make their decisions in a networked rather than top-down manner.
Time is in short supply today
The EU Data Protection Regulation, which has been in force since May 25, is also a major issue for Ringier. Around two years ago, the media company created a dedicated position for this purpose. The trust of readers and customers is an enormous value and the company does not want to jeopardize this for anything in the world. The data-driven customer journey meets readers where they are. Relevant articles, products and services are tailored precisely to their needs, saving readers the tedious task of clicking through. "Time is in short supply today, we support the reader and that is appreciated," she summarizes Ringier's commitment.
Data is the compass
When asked whether the digital foundation that she has built with Ringier is also transferable to other industries, Xiaoqun Clever replies: "A digital foundation is relevant for every industry these days. The digital transformation has given consumers much more voice and feedback. In the form of data. For many companies, it is an enormous challenge to capture this feedback in its entirety and use it quickly in their products and services. One of the rookie mistakes of digitalization is not being able to distinguish real feedback signals from background noise and using unchecked data to make decisions. Data is the company's compass. It helps to identify trends or launch new products. Data tells you how satisfied your customers are and what you need to do to keep them loyal. Without data, you are basically driving blind. The most important thing is to process data quickly as a feedback signal. If you don't master this loop perfectly, you're running behind. "*Biggies is an award from the "Big Data for Media Association", which recognizes the best practices of media companies in the field of big data and artificial intelligence.Name: Xiaoqun CleverVintage: 1970Company: Ringier AGFunction: Chief Technology and Data OfficerFamily: independent, two childrenHobbies: self-healing, jogging
